Crusader soccer team downs Rams 7-1

Photo by Jim Mulcahy
Jake Herbstritt, 9, of the Crusaders is about to score the opening goal of Friday’s Elk County Boys’ Soccer Tournament against the Johnsonburg Rams played at Angela Huey Field in Kersey. Cody Harnett, 9, is the Johnsonburg defender.

By

Jim Mulcahy

KERSEY - The Elk County Catholic Crusader soccer team defeated the Johnsonburg Rams by a 7-1 score Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Elk County Boys’ Soccer Tournament, played at Angela Huey Field in Kersey.
The Crusaders will meet the St. Marys Area Dutchmen today at noon for the tournament crown, while the Rams and the Ridgway Elkers played at 10 a.m. today in the consolation match. St. Marys beat Ridgway 2-0.
The Crusaders wasted little time in getting on the board as Jake Herbstritt scored with 38:53 left in the first half, giving ECC the 1-0 lead.
At the 37:04 mark, Peter Pontzer made the score 2-0 off a direct kick by Ben Wortman.
Wortman made the score 3-0 when he scored on a shot from the top of the box with 34:53 left in the first half.
Elk Catholic went up 4-0 with 17:29 left in the first half when Pontzer scored from the left side.
Elk had 12 shots on goal in the first half to Johnsonburg’s four. The Crusader keeper, Corey Huff, had three saves, while the Rams’ Devon Zilcoski and Ethan Rowles also combined for three saves. ECC had four corner kicks to Johnsonburg’s two.
The Crusaders came out strong in the second half and picked up right where they left off as Herbstritt scored with 33:17 left in the game, giving ECC the 5-0 lead.
With 19:07 left in the match, Ian Herzing scored, giving Elk the 6-0 lead.
Johnsonburg got on the board at the 1:55 mark when Tommy Imbrogno scored for the Rams.
Elk Catholic’s Corey Koss made the final score 7-1 when he scored with 10.3 seconds remaining, giving the Crusaders the victory.